A huge thank you and congratulations to all of our competitors who took part in the 17th Buccleuch Property Challenge on Friday 5th September 2025. We are thrilled to have welcomed a record breaking 88 teams to Drumlanrig Castle where they were treated to a jam-packed course, full of activities and adventure. The course covered an average of 40km with an elevation gain of up to 1000m. As well as our usual mountain biking (with a significant hill climb!), orienteering and running, Challengers faced a river swim, paddleboarding, puzzle solving, an assault course, Highland Games, clays, archery and axe-throwing as well as a peacefull 5-minutes in a meditation tent by the river (a much-needed lie down for some!). We are delighted to add that we have now raised over £18,500 for our charity partner, the Ella Dawson Foundation - thank you to everyone who donated or shared our fundraiser and who donated or bid for prizes in our post-race raffle and auction.
Congratulations to our winners and runners-up for 2025:
MIXED TEAM CATEGORY
1st Place – ‘Drees & Sommer, Lovin’, had me a blast (Team 57) from RSP Consulting Engineers/Drees & Sommer UK Ltd and the team members; Carol Lock, James Armstrong and Gavin Smith
2nd Place – ‘MLA’ (Team 65) from MLA Architects and the team members; Hazel Pearson, Tim Griffin and Stuart Falconer
3rd Place – ‘2024 was (probably) a fluke’ (Team 48) from Ironside Farrar Ltd and the team members; Graham Black, Nikki McAuley and David Scott
MENS TEAM CATEGORY
1st Place –‘Percy Plodders’ (Team 30) from Northumberland Estates and the team members; Thomas Prentice, Michael O’Driscoll and Nick Atkinson
2nd Place – ‘Castle Cavalry’ (Team 7) from Northumberland Estates and the team members; Mark Roberts, David Young and Barney Harvey
3rd Place – ‘Burness Blaze’ (Team 6) from Burness Paull LLP and the team members; Pete Chambers, Matthew Bles and Hugh Fraser
WOMENS TEAM CATEGORY
1st Place – ‘NGB Belles’ (Team 46) from Naylors Gavin Black LLP and the team members; Katy Clark, Jess Ross and Jenna Crooks
2nd Place – ‘TFT Easier Said than Run’ (Team 47) from Tuffin Ferraby Taylor and the team members; Emily Baigent, Gosia Nieszporek and Louise Pattullo
3rd Place – ‘Anderson Strathern Striders’ (Team 45) from Anderson Strathern LLP and the team members; Susan Stewart, Lucy Hanlon and Jennifer Preston
BUCCLEUCH TEAM CATEGORY
Trophy winners and Buccleuch Womens Team – ‘QueensVery Speedy’ (Team 81) from Buccleuch Queensberry Estate and the team members; Lizzie Hamilton, Freya Grant and Brodie Fergusson
Buccleuch Mens Team – ‘Friends Reunited’ (Team 82) from Buccleuch Property and the team members; Neil Finnie, Nick Waugh and Stewart Taylor
Buccleuch Mixed Team – ‘The Dukes (and Duchess) of Hazzard’ (Team 88) from Buccleuch Property and the team members; Sandy Smith, James Macleod and Suzy Scarlett
The full results table can be viewed HERE
The full event gallery can be viewed HERE
